The following procedure illustrates how to create math channels in the DataLink II software to show the elapsed time intervals from your E.T. slip. This can be helpful to visualize where your car is when certain events occur in your downloaded data file, as shown in the example below.
In order for this to display correctly, you must fill out the ‘Run Info’ RunLog in the Racepak DataLink II software. This is good practice anyway, as it helps keep your timeslip information with your data files so that you can easily access your information on that run. Paper logs are good, but keeping the timeslip information with the data file makes sure that even if you leave your log book at home (or worse, lose it), you will still have the time slip and weather information stored in your PC. Here’s the Run Info for the run in this example, which is actually a run I made in a Nostalgia Funny Car at the March Meet in Bakersfield in 2014.
The E.T. slip shows ‘5.846’ (which may not sound great, but qualified us for the show). At any rate, once the Run Info page was filled out, the intervals displayed on the screen as shown in the examples above.
The interval channels can be added to the data file or configuration file by adding the necessary channels below. In order for this to work correctly, you will first need to add the ‘Track Time‘ channel, if that has not already been added to your file(s). You can find that example HERE.
First, open the file to which you wish to add the new channel. If it is a run file, simply open it from the ‘File’ menu in the DataLink II software. If you wish to add it to your configuration file, so the channel will appear in all subsequent downloaded files, select ‘Open Car Configuration’ from the ‘File’ menu, and select the appropriate configuration file from the available list.
Once the desired file has been opened in the software, select the ‘Channel Maintenance’ option under the ‘Edit’ menu.
Click on the channel in the list where you would like to insert the new channel. In this example, we have selected a position after the last channel, so the position after ‘Pan Press’ has been highlighted. Click on ‘Easy Insert Channel’.
Now we need to select the type of channel we will be inserting. Since this is a simple expression, we will select “Calculation’ and under the Type, we will select expression (EXPR). Click ‘OK’.
In order to properly create the first of the interval channels, name it ‘Clock 60Ft’ (or something similar) in the ‘Name’ text box. Then, since it is a logic channel, type ‘IF(‘ and then double-click the ‘Track Time’ (or ‘NHRA Time’) channel in the list of ‘Currently Defined Channels’ in the left hand column. Then, type “<‘Time60ft,0,Time60ft’)” in the ‘Expr’ text box. See example below:
60′ Mark
Be sure to scale the minimum and maximum values correctly for your application. We recommend using ‘0’ as the minimum value and either ‘0.7’ or ‘1’ as the maximum. Simply click ‘OK’ to add the channel to the list. We will repeat the procedure for the rest of the intervals as show below:
330′ Mark
660′ Mark
1000′ Mark
1320′ Mark (Finish Line)
Once you have added the final interval, Simply click ‘OK’ to add the channel to the list, and then ‘OK’ a second time to return to the main screen of the DataLink II software. You should see the channel buttons for each of the intervals appear in the location into which you inserted it. If you are satisfied with the results, be sure to click ‘Save’ from the ‘File’ menu.
For questions or assistance in adding these channels to your system, please contact us at Performance Data Systems at (949) 652-6300 or email us at support@racepds.com.